Kings wear the crown in NHL

Los Angeles routs New Jersey 6-1 to claim Stanley Cup

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings, born as one of six expansion teams in 1967-68, ended 45 years of wandering in the NHL wildness Monday night.

Dustin Brown re-emerged, with a goal and two assists, getting the Kings started on a 6-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Staples Center that put the Stanley Cup in his hands. Brown, as team captain, was handed the Cup first. He is the second American-born captain to win the cup.

The Devils, who had won back-to-back games after falling behind 3-0 in the series, were out of Game Six fast.

Forward Steve Bernier all-but put the Cup in the Kings' hands with a five-minute major penalty for boarding 11 minutes into the game. The Kings scored three power play goals during the penalty, the first by Brown.

Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis scored two goals and Matt Greene one for the Kings, who are the first eight-seeded team to win the Stanley Cup.

The early 3-0 lead took pressure off the Kings, who had been peppered with questions about whether they would join the 1942 Detroit Red Wings as the only team to blow a 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Kings had been close to the Cup once before. They won Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens in 1993 and were leading Game 2 late when Marty McSorley was caught with an illegal stick. The Canadiens scored to tie the game, won in overtime and the won the next three games.

After Monday, McSorley will probably be forgiven by Kings' fans.

Bernier set the Kings in motion. He went behind the net and slammed defenseman Rob Scuderi into the boards, opening a cut. Bernier was ejected and the Kings had a five-minute power play.

Brown got the scoring spree started. He charged the net and re-directed a Drew Doughty shot for a 1-0 lead at 11:03. Brown was the catalyst again two minutes later. He came from behind the net, whirled and whizzed a shot Carter tipped past goaltender Martin Brodeur.

Lewis put the Devils in a deep hole 15 minutes into the game. Dwight King bulled his way to the net, but lost the puck. Lewis was at the crease and swept it into the net.

The Kings had a 13-4 edge in shots after the first period.

Any comeback thoughts by the Devils were doused quickly. Carter slipped into the slot, took a pass from Brown, and whipped a wrist shot that beat Brodeur 1:30 into the second period.

The Devils finally got on the scoreboard with 1:13 left in the second period. Petr Skyora got a shot on net off a face off. Adam Henrique knocked in the rebound.

Sharks acquire rights to Stuart: Brad Stuart told the Detroit Red Wings months ago that he preferred to play on a team closer to his San Jose home next season.

Sunday, the Sharks did what they could to make that a reality, acquiring the rights to the defenseman who was their first-round pick in the 1998 draft with the hopes of signing him to long-term deal by July 1.

Stuart, 32, can become an unrestricted free agent that day. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson agreed to send minor league center Andrew Murray and a conditional draft pick to the Red Wings for three weeks of exclusive negotiating access with Stuart.

"Brad is a player we are very familiar with-a physical, team-first defenseman who is tough to play against, which is exactly the kind of mentality we want our team to possess," Wilson said.

If the Sharks sign Stuart, the Red Wings pick up San Jose's seventh-round pick in 2014; if Stuart signs elsewhere, the Sharks owe the Red Wings nothing further.

Stuart's wife, teenage stepdaughter and two younger boys have remained in the San Jose area while Stuart played with Detroit. The resulting strain prompted him to announce last season that he wasn't likely to return after his four-year, $15 million contract expires at the end of this month.

"I hope it is my final destination," Stuart said after being picked up by San Jose. "I've lived here in the offseason ever since I was traded, and I have a lot of respect for the organization." (MCT)

Montreal brings back Therrien as coach: The Montreal Canadiens ended months of managerial turmoil by rehiring Michel Therrien as coach.

Therrien, 48, led the team to a 77-77-36 record over parts of three National Hockey League seasons from 2000-01 through 2002-03. He replaces Randy Cunneyworth, who was named interim coach at midseason after Jacques Martin was fired.

The Canadiens finished the season 31-35-16 and in last place in the Eastern Conference's Northeast Division.

Therrien coached the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2005-06 through 2008-09, guiding the team to the Stanley Cup Final in the 2007-2008 season. They lost to the Detroit Red Wings in six games.(Bloomberg)